Al Mohler provides us with fresh and powerful offerings in how the “blogosphere” is shaping the way news is being handled, and even being changed, in front of our eyes due to internet web logs (blogs).
Question:
If blogs can shape the dissimination of news, just imagine how blogs could extend/enhance the Kingdom of God!? Really. How can we develop this or do you think Christians should not use this new medium?
Asking your church web site’s readers if Christians should leverage blogs is a little like asking your kids if they’re still awake after they’ve been put to bed: you’ll never get the answer “no” and believe it.
OK. Softball. However, let’s expand it to not just reading/responding, but actually strategically using this media for Kingdom Living. Is there a strategic value for blogging? If yes, in what way? No? Why? One thought would be that a blog eliminates relationship. Or does it? That help?
Yes! There’s value – I’m not sure if it’s strategic or tactical; that depends on the nature of your blog I suppose.
Mohler’s blog, for example, is more strategic; the Grace blogs have the opportunity to be more tactical. Even within that there’s a spectrum; on one side, Dan, yours is pretty wide-ranging topically; by contrast, Eric’s has been pretty focused on apologetics.
One thing that challenged me in a big way was something you wrote not long ago: “I find it too easy to write in a small blog on the back-side of the internet about the need to communicate the Gospel and all the while not be communicating the Gospel to the person next to me. Let’s guard ourselves from being zealots on-line while being hypocrites in life.”
As a frequent commenter (and blogger), I take that as a huge challenge: talk is cheap, after all. But it does force us to be able to defend our positions, and that’s a Good Thing™.
The thing I’m utterly clueless about is how to make God-blogs (as some call them) appeal to those outside the Kingdom. Maybe it’s foolishness to think it holds much potential there.
Emails and blogs should never be a replacement for one on one relationships, or for saying something that we could or would not say to someone’s face. So easy to send an email bomb to someone you are mad at and never have to deal with or see their reaction. I have been guilty of this many times, and I am sure most of you can relate. Typing is generally too impersonal other than for sharing information.
It is a great way to communicate ideas during the week, and for that I am thankful.
Let’s never lose sight of our God given responsibility to each other as the body of Christ, and blogs and emails to sharing information and discussing and debating ideas.
Were off the NYC. “Talk” to you soon!
While blogging has certainly changed the nature of “news” dissemination, I don’t think “God blogs” are going to change the world. I look at them a lot like I do the technical blogs that I follow as a software developer—primarily as a way for people to easily and quickly provide information, thoughts, plans, etc.
Some blogs by smart, interesting people give me food for thought. Other blogs are good for keeping up with current issues and providing pointers great resources. Still other blogs help me keep up with a friend’s struggle to lose his “farmer’s tan.” 🙂
As blogs gain a following, they begin to form a sort of community, but I don’t see that as a primary benefit. Our blogs are more like a cross between a blog and a discussion board. That, along with the fact that they are centered around an actual community (Grace Fellowship), does make these blogs a bit more community building.
Blogging DOES matter! Blogging is the next wave of (mis)information dissemination on-line. What was thought to be an “on-line” diary has quickly moved to mainstream as a research, marketing, product introduction forum today. Corporations are fretting about the power (and openness) of this technology, technologist are using this as a daily part of their jobs and we should used this medium to share God’s word.
I feel like our charter is to share the TRUTH – no matter the audience nor the forum. Blogging should be viewed a tool – the content should be the discussion point – not the tool.
Blogging related tools such as PubSub, Technorati and Rocketinfo are allowing people to quickly gather topical blogs from all over the world. If there are those that are looking for information about God’s truth – they should find our content and beliefs.
Hey Eric, thanks for the guiroo.com plug but I would have rather been the link for the “smart, interesting people”. ;^)
As for the original question, I’ve found that people are most interested in and search on the hot topics of the day – Iraq, London Bombings, Natalie Holloway, etc. I suggest thinking about how to discuss topics like these from a Christian world-view and the issues they bring up. (Remember my Schiavo post? I also made a post about Ashlee Simpson lip-syncing on Saturday Night Live and my hits shot up because of people seaching on the topic.)
As for “should we even use blogs”, I think we should first settle the question of if Christians should use the printing press. ;^)
Another way to extend the kingdom is get out there and make friends on other’s blogs. You can go to blogspot.com, find a feature blog, and start clicking the “Next Blog” button until you find someone you have something in common with – hobbies or whatever. Develop a dialog, eventually a relationship and pray that God will use it.
Or if you’re feeling brave, you can start here.